UNIVERSITY    OF  UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 

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:  Libf.ry  00022245161 

Science 


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in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/proudgirlhumbledOOhugh 


THE 


PROUD  GIRL  HUMBLED, 


two  school-mates; 


LITTLE   BOYS   AND   LITTLE   GIRLS, 


MRS.    HUGHS, 

AUTHOR   OF    "FRANK   WORTHY,"    "MAY   MORNING, "    ETC.  ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LINDSAY  AND    BLAKISTON. 

1849. 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849,  by 

LINDSAY  &  BLAKISTON, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for 
the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


STEREOTYPED      BY     J.     FAGAN 
PRINTED      BY     C     SHERMAN. 


(4) 


PREFACE. 


Dear  Headers : 

This  little  story  has  been  writ- 
ten, to  show  you  how  often  we 
are  the  cause  of  our  own  unhap- 
piness  by  selfish  conduct.  To 
be  happy,  we  should  act  kindly 
towards  all  who  are  worthy, 
(knowing  good  conduct  more 
frequently    commands     respect 

(5) 


6  PREFACE. 

than  riches,)  and  not  permit 
ourselves  to  feel  envious  of  those 
who  excel  us  in  any  way;  but 
should  rather  strive  to  imitate 
their  good  actions,  that  we  may 
thus,  by  correcting  our  faults, 
gain  the  love  of  those  around 
us;  ever  bearing  in  mind,  that 
"  to  be  happy,  we  must  be  good  " 


THE  PROUD  GIRL 


HUMBLED. 


SUPPOSE 

you  will  be  at 
Miss  Rosalba 
Pearson's  par- 
ty to-morrow 
night/'  said  Is- 
abella Inger- 
sol  to  Matilda 
Hamilton,  as  they  sat  on  the 
first  resting-place  of  the  steps 

(?) 


8         PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

leading  up  to  the  reservoir  at 
Fairmount. 

"No,  I  shall  not  be  there," 
returned  Matilda  in  a  contempt- 
uous tone;  "Rosalba  Pearson 
is  no  acquaintance  of  mine.55 

"  I  thought  you  went  to  the 
same  school  together.55 

"So  we  do;  but  that  is  no 
reason  that  we  should  be  ac- 
quainted. I  never  spoke  to  her 
in  my  life,  except  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  one  is  obliged,  sometimes, 
to  speak  to  a  girl  that  is  in  the 
same  class.55 

"  She  seems,  in  general,  to  be 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.         9 

a  great  favourite  in  the  school," 
said  Isabella;  "I  have  often 
heard  her  spoken  of  with  much 
affection  by  many  of  the  girls." 

"Perhaps  so,"  replied  her 
companion ;  "  but  however  good 
and  sweet  she  may  be,  she  is 
certainly  not  a  proper  acquaint- 
ance for  me." 

"Why  not?  what  is  there 
amiss  about  her  ?  I  never  heard 
any  one  say  anything  against 
her.  On  the  contrary,  she  is 
universally  loved  and  admired." 

"Ma  is  very  particular  about 
the    acquaintances    I   form   at 


10        PHOUD    GIRL    HUMBLED. 

school ;  for  she  says,  it  would  be 
a  very  awkward  thing  to  have 
to  shake  them  off  as  I  grow  up." 

"  But  if  you  find  them  amiable 
and  pleasant  acquaintances,  I 
cannot  see  why  you  need  shake 
them  off.  For  my  part,  I  should 
be  delighted  to  think  that  the 
friendships  I  form  while  a  girl 
would  last  me  through  life." 

"  That  would  be  pleasant 
enough,  provided  they  were  suit- 
able. But  how  would  you  feel 
if  in  a  public  assembly  you  were 
accosted  familiarly  by  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  storekeeper?" 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       11 

"  If  she  were  one  that  I  ad- 
mired and  esteemed,  I  should 
not  care  what  her  father  was," 
replied  Isabella  with  energy. 

"So  you  think  at  present,  be- 
cause you  find  it  very  pleasant 
to  go  to  Hosalba's  party;  but 
wait  a  year  or  two,  and  see  if 
you  do  not  acknowledge  that 
you  are  sorry  your  mother  al- 
lowed you  to  form  an  acquaint- 
ance with  girls  who  did  not  be- 
long to  the  first  circles." 

"  I  have  heard  Papa  say,  he 
considered  Mr.  Pearson  equal 
to  any  man  in  Philadelphia,  for 


12        PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

integrity,  benevolence,  and  in- 
formation." 

"  That  may  be  very  true ;  but 
still  he  never  can  belong  to  the 
first  circles,  you  know." 

"  Is  there  any  thing  that  ought 
to  be  placed  higher  than  virtue 
and  knowledge?"  asked  Isabel- 
la with  great  simplicity.  "I 
have  always  been  taught  to 
think  that  these  were  the  crite- 
rion by  which  we  ought  to  judge 
our  friends." 

"We  may  respect  a  person 
or  otherwise,  in  proportion  as 
he  possesses  these  qualities ;  but 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       13 

that  is  no  reason  that  we  should 
admit  him  as  an  intimate  friend. 
People  of  an  inferior  class, 
Mamma  says,  are  so  much  dis- 
posed to  take  advantage  of  any 
little  kindness  that  is  shown 
them,  that  it  is  difficult  to  keep 
them  at  a  proper  distance." 

"  Has  Hosalba  Pearson  ever 
shown  any  disposition  to  ob- 
trude herself  upon  you  ?  " 

"  No,  not  at  all.  I  must  do 
her  the  justice  to  say,  that  she 
has  always  behaved  as  if  she 
knew  her  place" 

"  Or  that  she  had  no  wish  to 


14        PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

force  herself  into  the  first  circles 
unsolicited ;"  said  Isabella  dryly. 
A  slight  flush  passed  over  her 
companion's  cheek ;  for  she  had 
too  much  sense  not  to  under- 
stand what  Isabella  meant. 

"Both  Ma  and  Pa  have  al- 
ways been  very  particular  in 
cautioning  me  against  allowing 
myself  to  be  drawn  into  low 
company,"  said  she,  as  if  wish- 
ing to  offer  an  excuse  for  what 
she  could  not  vindicate. 

"My  parents  have  been  equal- 
ly particular,"  returned  her  com- 
panion.   "But  perhaps  your  pa- 


PROUD    GIRL    HUMBLED.        15 

rents  and  mine  do  not  agree  as 
to  what  is  low  company.  Some 
people  judge  of  individuals  ac- 
cording to  their  standing  in  the 
world ;  others  by  their  manners 
and  information,  and  consider 
them  low  or  high  in  proportion 
to  their  excellence  in  these  re- 
spects. But  it  is  a  subject  on 
which  it  is  folly  for  us  to  pre- 
tend to  dispute.  All  that  I 
know"  she  continued  playfully, 
"  is,  that  unless  we  sink  a  little 
lower  by  going  down  these  steps 
pretty  quickly,  we  shall  be  in 
danger  of  having  to  walk,  in- 


16        PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

stead  of  riding,  home  ;  for  I  see 
your  Mamma  and  my  Aunt 
Harriet  going  towards  the  car- 
riage." 

So  saying,  Isabella,  evidently 
desirous  of  putting  a  stop  to  a 
conversation  in  which  she  saw 
plainly  they  could  not  agree, 
began  to  run  down  the  steps  at 
a  rapid  rate. 

"  Oh,  do  stop,  Isabella ;  do  n't 
run  so  fast,  I  beg  of  you !  It's 
so  vulgar  to  run!"  exclaimed 
Matilda,  following  as  rapidly  as 
her  dignity  would  permit. 

"  If  I  were  in  Chestnut  street, 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED         17 

it  might  be  so,"  replied  Isabella, 
stopping  for  a  moment  at  one 
of  the  landings ;  "  but  here  in 
the  country,  I  may  surely  in- 
dulge myself;  and  I  do,  in  my 
heart,  like  a  good  run ;"  and  away 
she  flew  again,  nor  stopped  an 
instant  till  she  had  reached  the 
carriage,  where,  with  her  sweet 
face  glowing  and  her  bosom 
heaving  with  the  exercise  she 
had  taken,  she  waited  for  the 
arrival  of  her  more  dignified 
companion. 

"It's   a  pity   but   you   could 
keep  that  colour  captive,  Isabel- 


18       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

la  until  to-morrow  evening,"  said 
her  Aunt  as  she  looked  with 
pleasure  on  the  bright  face  of 
her  niece.  "  You  would  need 
little  else  to  prepare  you  for  the 
party." 

"  What  party  is  she  going  to?" 
asked  Mrs  Hamilton,  rather  sur- 
prised that  there  was  anything 
of  the  kind  going  on,  without 
her  daughter  receiving  an  invi- 
tation. 

"  Rosalba  Pearson's,"  replied 
the  lady  interrogated. 

"Oh!"  returned  Mrs.  Hamil- 
ton, in  a  tone  that  said  as  plain- 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       19 

ly  as  words  could  have  spoken 
it,  "  she  is  welcome  to  all  such 
parties." 

"  Did  you  ever  spend  a  more 
delightful  evening  than  we  had 
at  Rosalba's  1 "  asked  the  occu- 
pant of  the  desk  immediately 
behind  Matilda's,  to  the  compan- 
ion who  shared  it  with  her,  the 
morning  but  one  after  the  con- 
versation we  have  recorded. 

"  No,  never.  Everything  went 
off  so  pleasantly !  I  never  saw  a 
party  better  conducted.  And 
yet  it  was  very  large." 

"  No  doubt,"  thought  Matilda, 


20        PROUD    GIRL    HUMBLED. 

as  she  commented  in  her  own 
mind  upon  what  she  heard ;  "  for 
amongst  the  set  that  was  likely 
to  be  there,  a  party  is  too  great 
an  event,  for  them  not  to  flock 
to  it.55 

"Didn't  Charles  Lisle  and 
Rosalba  dance  the  polka  beauti- 
fully together?"  resumed  the 
first  speaker. 

"  Charles  Lisle  !"  thought  Ma- 
tilda, "is  it  possible  he  could 
condescend  to  go  there !  But  I 
suppose  Rosalba's  brother  goes 
to  the  same  school.  Besides,  it 
is  not  of  so  much  consequence 


PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED.       21 

for  a  boy  to  form  such  acquaint- 
ances. Men  can  associate  with 
whom  they  please,  without  com- 
promising their  dignity,  Ma 
says.59 

Again  her  ears  were  arrested, 
for  the  one  who  had  been  first 
addressed,  said  in  reply;  "I 
don't  think  Henrietta  Lisle 
danced  so  well  as  Rosalba  did, 
though  she  certainly  had  a  splen- 
did partner.  Did  you  ever  see 
a  handsomer  boy  than  Edd 
Wharton  ?  And  did  n't  his  sis- 
ter look  lovely  too?" 

Matilda  was  thundex*-struck ! 


22        PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

Henrietta  Lisle  at  a  party  given 
by  Rosalba  Pearson !  a  store- 
keeper's daughter !  And  Edd 
Wharton,  too,  her  paragon  of 
all  that  was  genteel  and  elegant, 
both  as  regarded  person,  fortune, 
and  family,  and  his  beautiful 
sister,  to  be  there ! 

She  was  sur-prised  and  shock- 
ed beyond  measure.  "But  Ma 
says,  people  have  latterly  got 
some  very  strange  notions  into 
their  heads  about  equality," 
thought  she ;  and  at  this  moment, 
to  her  no  small  relief,  she  heard 
her  class  called  up ;  for  all  that 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       23 

had  been  said  of  this  party  was 
gall  and  bitterness  to  her. 

As  the  season  was  nearly  over, 
all  who  wished  to  see  their 
friends  were  anxious  to  do  so 
before  the  weather  became  too 
warm  for  such  amusements.  Of 
this  number  was  Isabella  Inger- 
sol ;  and  Matilda,  of  course,  re- 
ceived a  card  of  invitation. 
Though  delighted  at  the  thought 
of  the  visit,  her  pleasure  was 
somewhat  damped,  when  she 
recollected  that  Rosalba  Pear- 
son must  of  course  be  one  of  the 
party.     It  is  true  she   had   no 


24       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

reason  to  fear  that  Rosalba 
would  in  any  way  force  herself 
upon  her  notice ;  but  still  there 
was  a  something  about  this  girl 
that  she  half  feared,  half  envied. 
That  this  was  so,  she  certainly 
would  not  have  acknowledged, 
though  she  frequently  found  her- 
self arguing  against  it,  as  if  it 
was  a  fact  that  she  could  not 
wholy  deny.  That  she  should 
ever  for  a  moment  look  upon 
Rosalba  as  a  rival,  was  alto- 
gether unaccountable.  It  was 
true  they  were  school-mates,  and 
might  be  said  to  be  of  the  same 


PROUD  GIRL  HUMBLED.       25 

age,  for  they  were  both  in  their 
thirteenth  year;  but  then  Ro- 
salba  was  much  smaller,  and 
much  more  childish  looking. 
And  as  to  beauty,  there  could 
not  be  any  comparison,  for  she 
had  never  heard  that  young  la- 
dy's warmest  admirers  pretend 
to  say  she  was  handsome,  though 
all  declared  she  had  a  remark- 
ably sweet  countenance ;  whilst 
on  the  other  hand  it  required 
no  great  stretch  of  vanity,  in  her, 
to  say  she  knew  herself  to  be  so ; 
for  the  fact  had  been  acknowl- 
edged by  those  with  whom  she 


26       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

was  well  assured  she  was  not  a 
favourite.  Neither  could  Ro- 
salba  cope  with  her  in  respect 
to  acquirements;  for  every  teach- 
er she  had  declared  her  to  be 
his  best  scholar. 

Why  then  should  she  feel 
anything  like  rivalry  towards 
this  young  girl,  whose  unassu- 
ming manners  she  could  not 
herself  refuse  to  acknowledge  ? 
Mr.  Pearson  was  not  only  a 
storekeeper,  but  had  never  tes- 
tified any  desire  to  step  beyond 
his  calling,  and  had  often  been 
heard  to  say,  that  he  was  deter- 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       27 

mined  to  give  his  children  the 
best  education  he  could,  as  that 
would  be  the  chief  thing  they 
would  have  to  depend  upon, 
and  as  it  was  a  fortune  that 
could  not  be  taken  away  from 
them,  he  considered  it  the  best 
investment  for  his  money.  How 
different,  then,  was  a  girl  so  sit- 
uated from  herself,  the  only  child 
of  one  of  the  richest  men  in  the 
city,  whose  wealth  had  descend- 
ed to  him  by  inheritance,  and 
who  of  course  belonged  to  one 
of  the  oldest  families  in  the 
State ! 


28        PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

Still,  after  all  this  arguing, 
Matilda  was  conscious  that 
there  was  something  about  Ro- 
salba  Pearson  of  which  she  was 
afraid ;  and  consequently,  on  en- 
tering her  friend  Isabella's  ball- 
room, felt  extreme  mortification, 
when  the  first  object  that  met 
her  view  was  Edd  Wharton 
promenading,  with  Henrietta 
Lisle  holding  by  one  arm  and 
Hosalba  Pearson  the  other.  It 
was  to  no  purpose  that  she  was 
received  by  Isabella  and  her 
mother  with  the  utmost  cordial- 
ity and  kindness,  the  former  not 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       29 

leaving  her  side  till  she  saw  her 
engaged  with  a  number  of  her 
particular  friends:  the  canker- 
worm  of  jealousy  had  found  its 
way  into  the  unhappy  girl's 
heart,  and  poisoned  every  better 
feeling.  In  vain  she  compared 
her  own  splendid  dress,  and  the 
costly  jewelry  with  which  she 
was  adorned,  with  the  simple 
but  conspicuously  graceful  at- 
tire of  her  unconscious  rival, 
who,  in  all  the  innocent  simpli- 
city of  her  heart,  sent  her  merry 
laugh  to  the  ears  of  the  writhing 
Matilda, 


30       PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

At  length,  the  musicians  took 
their  places,  and  the  dancing 
commenced.  Charles  Lisle  had 
already  engaged  her  for  the 
first  set,  and  at  any  other  time 
Matilda  would  have  been  high- 
ly satisfied  with  her  partner; 
but  in  the  same  quadrille,  oppo- 
site to  her,  stood  Rosalba  by 
the  side  of  Edd  Wharton,  who 
talked  and  laughed  with  her 
with  the  utmost  cordiality.  This 
was  sufficient  to  destroy  all  Ma- 
tilda's enjoyment,  and  she  moved 
through  the  dance  with  even  less 
than  her  usual  animation,  though 


PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED.       31 

she  was  always  careful  to  avoid 
any  appearance  of  enjoying  her- 
self, as  being  altogether  unfash- 
ionable and  vulgar.  Hosalba, 
on  the  contrary,  danced  as  if 
she  did  so  for  the  pleasure  of 
the  thing ;  and  though  her  move- 
ments were  at  all  times  easy  and 
graceful,  she  evidently  thought 
of  the  amusement  alone,  and  al- 
lowed herself  to  be  happy  with- 
out considering  how  she  looked 
whilst  she  was  so. 

A  succession  of  partners,  such 
as  Matilda  could  not  find  the 
slightest  fault  with,  engaged  her 


32        PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

for  each  succeeding  dance,  so 
that  she  had  not  the  least  cause 
to  complain  of  being  neglected ; 
but  the  only  one  that  she  had 
set  her  heart  upon  dancing  with, 
never  came  to  ask  her.  Ed- 
mund Wharton  not  only  belong- 
ed to  what  Matilda  termed  the 
first  circles,  but  he  was  the  old- 
est and  by  much  the  handsom- 
est boy  in  the  room.  She  knew 
also  that  his  talents  were  far 
beyond  the  ordinary  standard, 
and  that  he  was  remarkably  in- 
telligent and  manly  for  his  age. 
On  these  accounts  she  deemed 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       33 

herself  the  most  fitting  compan- 
ion to  whom  he  could  have  at- 
tached himself  for  the  evening. 
But  instead  of  such  a  selection, 
he  had  only  noticed  her  when 
they  had  met  in  the  first  dance, 
with  a  familiar  "  How  d'ye  do, 
Tilly  ?"  without  evincing  the 
least  disposition  to  come  near 
her  afterwards,  whilst  he  fre- 
quently joined  the  various 
groups  of  which  Rosalba  Pear- 
son formed  a  part. 

At  length,  the  musicians  re- 
tired for  a  time,  and  refresh- 
ments  were   brought    in,   after 


34        PROUD    GIRL    HUMBLED. 

which  the  piano  was  opened, 
and  Isabella  led  the  way  for 
other  more  skilful  performers, 
by  playing  a  simple  piece,  which 
having  done  she  called  upon 
Matilda  to  take  her  place.  After 
some  few  objections,  Matilda 
complied,  and  played  a  sonata 
of  considerable  difficulty,  with 
great  neatness  and  execution; 
but  her  touch  was  hard,  and  her 
style  altogether  was  skilful  but 
cold.  As  she  rose  from  the  in- 
strument, all  expressed  admira- 
tion at  the  ease  with  which  she 
executed    exceedingly    difficult 


PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED.       35 

passages ;  but  no  one  seemed  to 
be  anxious  to  retain  her  at  her 
place. 

In  a  minute  or  two  afterwards, 
she  heard  Rosalba,  who  stood 
near,  say,  as  if  in  reply  to  some 
request  that  young  Wharton 
had  made,  "Oh,  I  could  not 
think  of  it,  after  the  music  we 
have  just  been  listening  to ;"  and 
being  convinced  by  the  tone  of 
her  voice  that  Hosalba  was  re- 
ally alarmed  at  the  idea  of  play- 
ing after  her,  Matilda  immedi- 
ately determined  that  she  should 
do  so,  and  for  the  first  time  that 


36       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

evening  felt  something  like  plea- 
sure, when  she  thought  of  the 
difference  that  Edmund,  who 
was  himself  a  good  musician, 
would  discover  between  their 
performances. 

"  I  should  not  have  ventured 
to  sit  down  to  the  instrument," 
said  she,  "  if  I  had  not  hoped  by 
that  means  to  secure  the  plea- 
sure of  hearing  Miss  Pearson 
play." 

"  Oh,  you  know  I  do  n't  pre- 
tend to  be  anything  of  a  musi- 
cian," said  Rosalba,  with  unaf- 
fected earnestness. 


PROUD  GIRL   HUMBLED.       37 

"You  only  want  to  surprise 
us ;"  said  the  haughty  girl,  en- 
deavouring for  once  to  put  on 
a  condescending  and  encourag- 
ing look.  "You  cannot  but 
know  that  I  shall  prove  a  most 
excellent  foil." 

"  Oh !  you  ought  not  to  talk 
so,"  remonstrated  Hosalba,  "  for 

you  know  Mr.  H- invariably 

pronounces  you  to  be  his  best 
scholar." 

"  Your  performance  will  prove 
how  much  his  opinion  is  to  be 
depended  upon,"  returned  Ma- 
tilda in  the  same  graciously  con- 


38       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

descending  tone ;  "and  as  I  have 
gained  the  right  to  call  upon 
you,  I  must  beg  leave  to  do  so, 
however  it  may  turn  out  to  my 
own  disadvantage." 

"  There  is  nothing  for  you  but 
to  play,  Rosalba,"  said  Wharton, 
who  had  stood  by,  listening  to 
the  dispute ;  "  so  come,  I  will  fix 
the  stool  for  you,"  he  added  sig- 
nificantly turning  the  music-seat 
as  he  spoke,  to  raise  it  a  little 
higher;  "you  are  one  of  the 
lower  class,  you  know,  and  we 
therefore  must  try  to  elevate 
you."     As  he  said  this,  his  eye 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       39 

sought  that  of  his  friend  Charles 
Lisle,  who  stood  near,  and  who 
evidently  understood  it.  Matil- 
da, too,  observed  his  look,  and 
was  as  little  at  a  loss  to  com- 
prehend its  meaning,  and  her 
bosom  swelled  almost  to  burst- 
ing. 

Rosalba,  finding  that  she  was 
expected  to  play,  took  her  seat 
at  the  instrument  without  any 
further  hesitation,  and  selecting 
a  beautiful,  but  far  from  difficult 
piece  of  music,  began  it  in  an 
easy  and  unaffected  style.  She 
was  far  from  having  the  execu- 


40        PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED 

tion  of  which  Matilda  was  mis- 
tress, but  her  touch  was  peculi- 
arly sweet,  and  being  keenly 
sensible  of  the  charms  of  music 
herself,  she  touched  the  feelings, 
though  she  did  not  excite  the 
wonder  of  those  who  listened  to 
her.  Edmund  Wharton  stood 
by  her  side,  ready  to  turn  over 
the  leaves  for  her,  and  almost 
as  much  absorbed  by  the  tones 
she  drew  forth  as  herself 

As  she  finished,  and  was  about 
to  rise,  the  words  "  Oh  do  n't 
leave  the  instrument  yet !"  "  Do, 
pray,  let  us  have  some  more!" 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       41 

"  Oh,  I  wish  you  would  play  that 
piece  over  again!"  resounded 
from  those  who  were  standing 
about  her,  and  Edmund  said 
with  a  look  of  exultation,  "  Miss 
Hamilton  must  feel  proud  at 
hearing  her  judgment  so  fully 
confirmed  by  the  general  voice.5' 

"  I  was  sure  that  Miss  Pear- 
son knew  how  to  take  her  hear- 
ers by  surprise;"  returned  Ma- 
tilda. 

"  She  is  indeed  quite  an  art- 
ist," said  Edmund.  "I  had  no 
expectation  of  finding  her  so 
much  so." 


42       PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

"  You  are  not  yet  aware  how 
great  an  artist  she  is,"  replied 
the  jealous  girl,  whose  splenetic 
feelings  had  now  got  beyond  her 
control ;  "  for  she  possesses  the 
art  of  not  appearing  to  have 
any." 

Rosalba  turned  round  to  Ma- 
tilda with  a  look  of  extreme 
surprise,  at  this  ungenerous  and 
unprovoked  attack,  and  a  flush 
of  indignation  reddened  her 
cheek ;  but  it  disappeared  the 
next  instant,  and  with  a  gentle 
dignity  that  even  Matilda  could 
not  be  blind  to,  she  put  her  arm 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       43 

through  that  of  a  young  lady 
near  her,  and  walked  quietly  to 
the  further  end  of  the  room. 

Matilda  felt  the  humiliation 
that  she  had  intended  for  ano- 
ther, recoil  upon  herself;  but 
she  tried  to  believe  that  it  was 
either  not  observed,  or  not  un- 
derstood by  Edmund,  who,  with- 
out making  any  comment  upon 
what  had  passed,  engaged  him- 
self in  adjusting  the  stool,  and 
fixing  the  music  for  other  per- 
formers; and  as  several  songs 
were  sung,  and  sonatas  played, 
by  various  individuals,  though 


44        PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

none  of  them  had  reached  be- 
yond a  school-girl's  style  of  per- 
formance, Matilda  had  time  to 
compose  her  angry  and  morti- 
fied feelings.  She  however  very 
soon  relapsed  again,  for  on  Is- 
abella's coming  to  say  that  she 
was  sent  by  several  of  the  com- 
pany to  beg  that  she  would  play 
once  more  for  them,  she  found 
that  she  was  allowed  to  screw 
the  stool  down  for  herself, 
though  Edmund  Wharton  was 
standing  close  to  her  at  the  time. 
And  even  this  was  not  all  that 
she  had  to  encounter,  for  having 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       45 

either  by  accident  or  design,  let 
the  piece  of  music  drop  from 
her  fingers,  just  as  she  was  about 
to  place  it  on  the  desk,  she  was 
permitted  to  stoop  to  pick  it  up 
without  any  effort  being  made 
by  him  to  prevent  her.  This,  we 
are  sorry  to  say,  would  not  have 
been  very  extraordinary  with 
many  boys  of  Edward  Whar- 
ton's age,  but  with  him  it  was 
an  unequivocal  mark  of  con- 
tempt ;  for  he  had  ever  been  so 
remarkable  for  his  polite  atten- 
tion to  those  about  him,  that 
when  he  failed  in  it,  the  circum- 


46       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

stance  could  only  be  attributed 
to  design.  If  Matilda,  however, 
had  entertained  any  doubt  of 
that  being  the  case,  it  would 
immediately  have  been  dispel 
led  when  Charles  Lisle  said  in 
a  sort  of  whisper,  but  loud 
enough  for  her  to  hear,  "  Why, 
Wharton,  how  could  you  allow 
Miss  Hamilton  to  pick  her  music 
up  herself?" 

"  Because  I  thought  it  would 
do  her  good  to  stoop  a  little," 
replied  the  other,  laughing. — 
"She  will  have  to  practise  a 
good  deal  before  she   becomes 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       47 

tolerable."  Not  a  word  of  this 
was  lost  upon  Matilda. 

She  even  fancied  that  it  was 
intended  she  should  hear  it,  and 
she  shook  so  with  passion  that 
she  had  to  turn  over  the  music, 
as  if  in  search  of  something  she 
wanted,  a  considerable  time  be- 
fore she  dared  to  trust  her 
trembling  fingers  to  touch  the 
keys;  and  when  she  did,  she 
played  with  so  unsteady  a  hand, 
that  she  rose  from  the  piano 
when  she  had  finished,  still  more 
humbled  and  mortified. 

At  length  the  dancing  was  re- 


48       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

newed,  and  continued  until  all 
seemed  anxious  to  rest,  when 
Isabella  proposed  a  game  at 
Magical  Music,  which  was 
agreed  to  by  all  hands;  and 
many  a  merry  peal  of  laughter 
resounded  at  the  various  mis- 
takes that  were  made. 

Then  there  were  the  forfeits 
to  be  worked  for,  and  songs 
were  sung,  pas  seals  danced,  and 
various  other  penances  perform- 
ed, for  their  recovery.  At 
length  it  was  Edmund  Whar- 
ton's lot  to  redeem  his  pledge, 
by  repeating  some  poetry.    After 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       49 

turning  it  over  for  some  time  in 
his  mind,  he  said,  "  I  never  was 
a  good  hand  at  remembering 
poetry,  but  a  few  lines  have  just 
come  into  my  head,  of  which, 
however,  I  neither  know  the 
author,  nor  am  I  sure  I  am  quite 
correct  in  the  words :  the  sense 
is  the  only  thing  I  can  answer 
for,  and  will  give  it  you,  as  well 
as  I  can." 

He  then  repeated  with  much 
distinctness,  and  with  great  ef- 
fect, the  following  well-known 
lines : 


50       PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED. 

"  What  is  the  finest  tincture  of  the  skin, 
To  peace  of  mind  and  harmony  within  ? 
What  the  bright  sparkling  of  the  finest  eye, 
To  the  sweet  soothings  of  a  mild  reply  ? 
Can  comeliness  of  form  or  shape  or  air 
With  comeliness  of  looks  and  words  compare  ? 
Those  for  a  while  may  the  affections  gain, 
But  these,  these  only,  can  the  heart  retain. 

"Miss  Hamilton's  carriage!" 
called  out  a  waiter,  just  as  Ed- 
mund had  uttered  the  last 
words ;  and  Matilda  rose,  delight- 
ed to  be  released  from  the  pur- 
gatory in  which  she  had  sat. 
On  arriving  home,  she  found 
only  the  old  housekeeper  sitting 
up  for  her,  and  she  hastened  to 
her  chamber,  glad  to  think  she 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       51 

was  at  length  to  be  alone.  As 
she  entered  the  room,  her  own 
figure,  reflected  at  full  length 
in  the  large  dressing-glass,  met 
her  view ;  and  she  was  startled 
at  the  contrast  between  her 
splendid  attire  and  the  mental 
wretchedness  displayed  in  her 
countenance.  Should  the  art- 
ist we  have  employed  to  depict 
her  as  she  stood  before  her  truth- 
ful mirror,  succeed  in  giving 
expression  to  the  feelings  of 
mortification,  shame,  and  hu- 
miliation, which  rankled  at  that 
moment  in  her  breast,  we  are 

4 


52        PROUD    GIRL    HUMBLED. 

sure  that  it  cannot  fail  to  pre- 
sent a  striking  lesson  to  our 
young  readers. 

How  insufficient  did  she  find 
the  wealth,  splendour,  and  con- 
sequence on  which  she  had 
hitherto  prided  herself,  to  re- 
store her  self-respect,  or  blind 
her  to  the  superiority  of  one 
whom  she  had  treated  with  such 
undeserved  contempt ! 

"Oh,  Rosalba!"  she  exclaim- 
ed in  a  tone  of  deep  feeling, 
"what  would  I  not  give,  to  ex- 
change situations  with  you  at 
this  moment !     How  much  do  I 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       53 

envy  you  the  respect  and  affec- 
tion that  all  seem  so  anxious  to 
testify  towards  you!  and  how 
happy  should  I  be,  could  I  learn 
your  art  of  winning  it !" 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  how  you 
may  gain  it,  Matilda?"  asked  a 
voice  behind  her,  that  made  her 
start;  and  looking  round,  she 
saw  an  old  lady  —  a  distant  rel- 
ative of  the  family,  who  was,  at 
the  time,  on  a  visit  to  Mrs. 
Hamilton,  and,  having  heard 
Matilda  come  in,  and  conclud- 
ing that  she  was  much  fatigued, 
had  come  to  offer  her  assistance 


54       PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

in  undressing,  and  had  by  that 
means  become  an  unintentional 
listener  to  the  young  girl's  soli- 
loquy. Never  was  offer  of  as- 
sistance more  a  propos ;  for  Ma- 
tilda's proud  spirit  was  humbled, 
and  in  a  right  frame  to  receive 
admonition.  Throwing  herself 
therefore,  on  the  neck  of  her 
friend,  she  exclaimed,  "Yes, 
dear  Aunt,  advise,  reprove,  and 
assist  me,  for  I  am  wretched." 

"  Reproof,  my  child,"  said  the 
old  lady,  as  she  pressed  the  now 
weeping  girl  to  her  bosom,  "  you 
have  little  need  of,  for  I  under- 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       55 

stand  the  kind  of  an  evening 
you  have  spent,  and  am  persuad- 
ed you  are  already  sufficiently 
punished.  Neither  do  you  need 
any  other  assistance  than  that 
of  your  own  natural  good  sense. 
Let  me  therefore  advise  you  to 
call  it  into  action,  and  accustom 
yourself  to  remember  that  the 
advantages  of  birth  and  fortune 
are  altogether  adventitious,  and 
though  they  may  obtain  for  you 
a  cold  and  distant  respect,  they 
never  will  gain  the  love  of  a 
single  being.  But  seek  to  learn 
the  law  of  love,  and  above  all, 


56        PROUD   GIRL    HUMBLED. 

accustom  yourself  to  practise 
that  divine  rule  of  doing  as  you 
would  be  done  unto,  and  you 
will  soon  find  yourself  surround- 
ed by  affectionate  hearts,  and 
feel  that  peace  within,  which  no 
external  circumstances  can  sup- 

ply" . 

With  many  tears,  Matilda 
promised  to  lay  this  gentle  ad- 
monition to  heart,  and  after  a 
little  more  conversation  she  laid 
her  head  upon  her  pillow,  with 
a  mind  composed  and  tranquil- 
lized by  good  resolutions,  in 
regard  to  her  future  conduct. 


PROUD   GIRL   HUMBLED.       57 

"  Did  you  ever  see  so  altered 
a  girl  as  Matilda  Hamilton  is  V 
said  Edmund  Wharton  to  his 
friend  Lisle,  one  day,  about  a 
year  after  Isabella  Xngersol's 
ball.  "  I  declare  she  is  grown 
quite  handsome." 

"She  always  was  that,"  re- 
turned the  other,  "  I  never  saw 
a  finer  complexion,  nor  a  more 
regular  set  of  features,  in  my 
life.'5 

"  That  is  true,  and  yet,  here- 
tofore, I  never  could  see  any 
beauty  in  her :  her  haughty,  su- 
percilious manners  destroyed  it 


58 


PROUD    GIRL   HUMBLED. 


all.  But  she  is  become  so  gen- 
tle and  amiable,  and  treats  every 
one  with  such  kind  courtesy, 
that  it  actually  makes  her  look 
beautiful;  and  I  now  take  as 
much  pains  to  meet  as  I  used 
to  take  to  avoid  her." 


LINDSAY  &  BLAKISTON  PUBLISH 
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